Chemistry and Biochemistry

The goal of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California State University,
San Marcos, is to provide quality chemistry and biochemistry education to all San Marcos students, both science majors and students
from other disciplines. We also have many courses for non-science students.

The California State University, San Marcos offers programs of courses leading to
a B.S. in Chemistry, a B.S. in Biochemistry, and a Science Education option. The B.S. in Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society Committee on
Professional Training. A broad spectrum of courses for majors are available in the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, physical
and biochemistry.

As an integral part of this program, each student is required to do a senior research
project, thesis, and thesis defense. Also each student will have the opportunity to
specialize his or her Degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry by taking upper division elective
courses in analytical, inorganic, organic, physical or biochemistry. With the appropriate
choices of Chemistry/Biochemistry and General Education electives graduates can meet
the requirements for admission to graduate, medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy,
veterinary and other professional schools.

Each student will learn the basics of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical
chemistry as well as biochemistry including the most recent technology in instrumentation
(AA, Electrochemistry, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, FTIR, GC, GC/MS, HPLC, Laser Spectroscopy,
Molecular Modeling, NMR, UV/VIS, X-ray Powder Diffraction, etc.). An atmosphere of
small class size, close faculty/student interaction and new facilities/equipment are
some of the advantages of the Chemistry and Biochemistry program at CSU, San Marcos.